By Sophie Eastaugh, for CNN
Updated 1440 GMT (2140 HKT) April 21, 2016
6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
The first torchbearer was Greek gymnastics world champion Eleftherios Petrounias. The torch is beginning a six-day relay tour of Greece which includes a pass through a refugee camp in Athens.
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6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
Gold medal-winner Petrounias said he was said he was shocked to be chosen as the first torch bearer. "I was driving when I heard," he told the Games' official website. "I almost crashed my car."
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6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
The Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro will host the opening ceremony for Brazil 2016. The Games run from 5-21 August.
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6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
The traditions of the torch-lighting ceremony, which include playing of the ancient Greek instrument the lyra and the release of a white dove for peace, were established at the Berlin Games in 1936.
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6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
Lechou passes the Olympic flame into a small ceramic bowl. The ceremony was performed at the site where the Olympics were born in 776 BC and remained for 12 centuries.
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6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
The first torchbearer was Greek gymnastics world champion Eleftherios Petrounias. The torch is beginning a six-day relay tour of Greece which includes a pass through a refugee camp in Athens.
Hide Caption
4 of 6
6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
Gold medal-winner Petrounias said he was said he was shocked to be chosen as the first torch bearer. "I was driving when I heard," he told the Games' official website. "I almost crashed my car."
Hide Caption
5 of 6
6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
The Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro will host the opening ceremony for Brazil 2016. The Games run from 5-21 August.
Hide Caption
6 of 6
6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
The Olympic flame is back: Greek actress Katerina Lechou performs the role of the high priestess as she lights the Olympic flame at the Temple of Hera at the site of ancient Olympia.
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1 of 6
6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
The traditions of the torch-lighting ceremony, which include playing of the ancient Greek instrument the lyra and the release of a white dove for peace, were established at the Berlin Games in 1936.
Hide Caption
2 of 6
6 photos: Rio 2016: Olympic torch lit
Lechou passes the Olympic flame into a small ceramic bowl. The ceremony was performed at the site where the Olympics were born in 776 BC and remained for 12 centuries.
Hide Caption
3 of 6
Story highlights
- Olympic torch lit in elaborate ceremony at ancient Greek site
- Flaming torch begins journey to Rio 2016, with 95 day tour in Brazil
- 100 day countdown comes amid uncertain times for Brazil
(CNN)The Olympic torch has been lit in southern Greece, kicking off the countdown to Rio 2016.
In a solemn and elaborate ceremony worthy of a "Game of Thrones" pageant, women in ancient-Greek style dresses and men in tunics performed symbolic rituals at the site of Ancient Olympia.
The Games were first held there in 776 BC and remained there for 12 centuries.
Acting the role of the high priestess, Greek actress Katerina Lechou lit the torch using a concave mirror to focus the sun's rays, before placing it into a ceramic bowl. An olive branch was cut and a white dove released into the blue spring sky, both symbolizing peace.
The flaming torch, which has its own Twitter account, was handed to its first torchbearer, gold medal-winning Greek gymnast Eleftherios Petrounias, before beginning its six-day relay across the country.
Another of the runners will be a Syrian refugee, who will carry the torch through the Eleonas refugee camp in central Athens -- part of a conscious effort by the International Olympics Committee to highlight the plight of refugees around the world.
For the first time in history, a team of five-12 refugee athletes from multiple countries will be competing in this year's Games. They will march behind the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony in Rio.
The Olympic flame is one of the most iconic sights in the history of sport.
After its sprint through Greece, the torch will travel to Brazil on April 27 to begin a 95-day tour visiting 83 cities, 26 state capitals and 500 towns -- reaching an estimated 90% of the population.
It is the first time the Games have been held in South America, but the torch-lighting ceremony comes during uncertain times for Brazil. President Dilma Roussef faces the possibility of animpeachment trial as early as May after accusations she broke budgetary laws.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, said in his speech at the torch-lighting ceremony that this year's Games "will be a message of hope in troubled times".
"In these difficult days that Brazil is facing, the flame is a timeless reminder that we all are part of the same humanity," he said.
"May today's lighting of the Olympic flame be another reminder to everyone to uphold the spirit of the Olympic Games and to build a better world through sport."
The torch's Brazilian tour will involve an estimated 12,000 torchbearers before arriving at Rio's famous Maracana Stadium for the Games' Opening Ceremony on August 5.
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Source: CNN
Olympic torch to pass through refugee camp 01:57
Another of the runners will be a Syrian refugee, who will carry the torch through the Eleonas refugee camp in central Athens -- part of a conscious effort by the International Olympics Committee to highlight the plight of refugees around the world.
For the first time in history, a team of five-12 refugee athletes from multiple countries will be competing in this year's Games. They will march behind the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony in Rio.
The Olympic flame is one of the most iconic sights in the history of sport.
After its sprint through Greece, the torch will travel to Brazil on April 27 to begin a 95-day tour visiting 83 cities, 26 state capitals and 500 towns -- reaching an estimated 90% of the population.
It is the first time the Games have been held in South America, but the torch-lighting ceremony comes during uncertain times for Brazil. President Dilma Roussef faces the possibility of animpeachment trial as early as May after accusations she broke budgetary laws.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, said in his speech at the torch-lighting ceremony that this year's Games "will be a message of hope in troubled times".
"In these difficult days that Brazil is facing, the flame is a timeless reminder that we all are part of the same humanity," he said.
"May today's lighting of the Olympic flame be another reminder to everyone to uphold the spirit of the Olympic Games and to build a better world through sport."
The torch's Brazilian tour will involve an estimated 12,000 torchbearers before arriving at Rio's famous Maracana Stadium for the Games' Opening Ceremony on August 5.
Olympic torch to pass through refugee camp 01:57
Another of the runners will be a Syrian refugee, who will carry the torch through the Eleonas refugee camp in central Athens -- part of a conscious effort by the International Olympics Committee to highlight the plight of refugees around the world.
For the first time in history, a team of five-12 refugee athletes from multiple countries will be competing in this year's Games. They will march behind the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony in Rio.
The Olympic flame is one of the most iconic sights in the history of sport.
After its sprint through Greece, the torch will travel to Brazil on April 27 to begin a 95-day tour visiting 83 cities, 26 state capitals and 500 towns -- reaching an estimated 90% of the population.
It is the first time the Games have been held in South America, but the torch-lighting ceremony comes during uncertain times for Brazil. President Dilma Roussef faces the possibility of animpeachment trial as early as May after accusations she broke budgetary laws.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, said in his speech at the torch-lighting ceremony that this year's Games "will be a message of hope in troubled times".
"In these difficult days that Brazil is facing, the flame is a timeless reminder that we all are part of the same humanity," he said.
"May today's lighting of the Olympic flame be another reminder to everyone to uphold the spirit of the Olympic Games and to build a better world through sport."
The torch's Brazilian tour will involve an estimated 12,000 torchbearers before arriving at Rio's famous Maracana Stadium for the Games' Opening Ceremony on August 5.
Olympic torch to pass through refugee camp 01:57Another of the runners will be a Syrian refugee, who will carry the torch through the Eleonas refugee camp in central Athens -- part of a conscious effort by the International Olympics Committee to highlight the plight of refugees around the world.
For the first time in history, a team of five-12 refugee athletes from multiple countries will be competing in this year's Games. They will march behind the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony in Rio.
The Olympic flame is one of the most iconic sights in the history of sport.
After its sprint through Greece, the torch will travel to Brazil on April 27 to begin a 95-day tour visiting 83 cities, 26 state capitals and 500 towns -- reaching an estimated 90% of the population.
It is the first time the Games have been held in South America, but the torch-lighting ceremony comes during uncertain times for Brazil. President Dilma Roussef faces the possibility of animpeachment trial as early as May after accusations she broke budgetary laws.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, said in his speech at the torch-lighting ceremony that this year's Games "will be a message of hope in troubled times".
"In these difficult days that Brazil is facing, the flame is a timeless reminder that we all are part of the same humanity," he said.
"May today's lighting of the Olympic flame be another reminder to everyone to uphold the spirit of the Olympic Games and to build a better world through sport."
The torch's Brazilian tour will involve an estimated 12,000 torchbearers before arriving at Rio's famous Maracana Stadium for the Games' Opening Ceremony on August 5.
Source: CNN
Olympic torch to pass through refugee camp 01:57
Another of the runners will be a Syrian refugee, who will carry the torch through the Eleonas refugee camp in central Athens -- part of a conscious effort by the International Olympics Committee to highlight the plight of refugees around the world.
For the first time in history, a team of five-12 refugee athletes from multiple countries will be competing in this year's Games. They will march behind the Olympic flag at the opening ceremony in Rio.
The Olympic flame is one of the most iconic sights in the history of sport.
After its sprint through Greece, the torch will travel to Brazil on April 27 to begin a 95-day tour visiting 83 cities, 26 state capitals and 500 towns -- reaching an estimated 90% of the population.
It is the first time the Games have been held in South America, but the torch-lighting ceremony comes during uncertain times for Brazil. President Dilma Roussef faces the possibility of animpeachment trial as early as May after accusations she broke budgetary laws.
Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, said in his speech at the torch-lighting ceremony that this year's Games "will be a message of hope in troubled times".
"In these difficult days that Brazil is facing, the flame is a timeless reminder that we all are part of the same humanity," he said.
"May today's lighting of the Olympic flame be another reminder to everyone to uphold the spirit of the Olympic Games and to build a better world through sport."
The torch's Brazilian tour will involve an estimated 12,000 torchbearers before arriving at Rio's famous Maracana Stadium for the Games' Opening Ceremony on August 5.
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